Gas-generating machine



(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 1.

L. T. BULLEY. GAS GENBRATING MACHINE.

No. 596,321. Patented Deo. 28, 1897.

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Inventor.

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A L. T. BULLEY. GAS GENERATING MACHINE. No. 596,321. Patented Deo. 28,1897.

Inventor.

M (2W/M Attorney{ Wltnesses W (No Model.) 6 sneetsfshet 3.

L. T. BULLEY.

GAS GBNBRATING MACHINE.

No. 596,321. Patented Deo. 28, 1897.

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L. T. BULLEY.

GAS GENBRATING MACHINE.

lll/ll 6 Sheets-Sheet 4.

Patented Deo. 28, 1897.

Witnesses.

'ma mums PETERS co.. moro-urne.. wAswNnToN. n. c

Irl: Inventor. @MW Y; .M iM/14 Attorney( (No Model.) 6 Sheets--Sheet'I 5.

L. T. BULLBY. GAS GENERATING MACHINE.

Patented Deo. 28, 1897 I nvento.

W itnesses.

Attorney@ TH: Nonnls PETERS co. PHomLxTHo., wAsmNsToN. n. c.

(No Model.) 6 Sheets- Sheet 6.

L. T. BULLEY.

GAS GBNERATING MACHINE.

No. 596,321. Patented Dec. 28, 1897.

-x l@ vvitnesses. 1 Inventor.

Attorney(d LOUIS T. BULLEY, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

GAS-GENERATING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 596,321, dated December 28, 1897.

v Application filed January 30,1897. Serial No. 621,313. (No model.)

To all whom it' may concern.-

Beit known that I, LOUIS T. BULLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gas-Generatin g Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improved automatic gas-generator of that class designed to reduce volatile oils to a gas for either power, heating, or illuminating purposes.

It is the object of my invention to construct a machine that shall be automatic in every detail, the mechanism being controlled by the amount of gas passing through the exhaustpipes,and to have the machine portable, simple in structure, and of few parts that can be produced at a low cost of manufacture.

It is also my object to produce a gas that.

will give a brilliant light with the minimum amount of oil from which to generate it; and this object I attain by mixing portions of air with the naphtha-gas, which combination produces an even brilliant light atan exceedingly low cost'.

With these objects in view my invention consists of the gas-generating machine constructed and operating as hereinafter fully described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings like numerals of reference designate like parts in the several figures, and represent, iu

Figure 1, a side elevation of my improved gas generating machine, partly in section; Fig. 2, a plan view of same; Fig. 3, an end ele- -vation of electric motor and generator-tank; Fig. 4., a plan section of generator-tank upon line A D of Fig. 3; Fig. 5, an elevation of the outer oil-chamber head in the generator-tank; Fig. 6, an elevation of drierchamber head; Fig. 7 an end elevation of the revolving basket; Fig. 8, a side elevation of automatic supply-valve; Fig. 9, an end elevation of same; Fig. 10, a side elevation of current-controlling mechanism, partly in section; Fig. 11, a plan view of same, Fig. 12, a vertical section of air-pressure regulator upon line A B of Fig. 2; Fig. 13, a side elevation of the deflector with the valve upon its outlet end; Fig. 14., a front elevation of the same; Fig. 15, a longitudinal section of coupling 151 on the gas-exhaust pipe Fig. 1G, an elevation of wire-gauze in coupling 151.

I will first describe the means by which the air is forced into the generator-tank.

Fig. 1 represents the bed of the machine, which is supported by suitable legs and consists of the upper platen 2 and lower platen 3, united by an open web 4. upon each of the four sides. Air-tank 5, depending from the under platen 3, is made preferably with a sheet-metal jacket 6 and a cast-metal head 7, to the under side of which the deflectors 8 8 8? 83 are rigidly secured. To the upper platen 2 and concentric with the air-tank 5 a plurality of air-pumps onbellows 9 9 92 93 are arranged equally distant from the center of the air-receiver 5 and diametrically opposite eachother. In this case four are shown, but the number and their location may be varied.

The air-pumps are constructed of leather, rubber, or other flexible material and are designed to fold and expand like a bellows. The pump-head 10 and base 11 are rigidly secured to the flexible sides by winding wire 12 around the same and covering said wire-winding by a band of metal 13, as shown in Fig. 1.

Attached to the inside of the pump-head 8 is a guide-rod 14, reaching down through an auxiliary guide-box 15 and the platen 2, by means of which the pump-cylinders are kept in an upright position and cou nteracttheltendency of the pump sides to fall out of alinement.

Motion is imparted to the pump through the links 16 16, pivotally connected with the pump-head 8 and the ends of the walkingbeams 17 1S upon the oscillating shafts 19 20. Shafts 19 and 20 are journaled in stands 21 21' 212, and the rods 22 22', connecting the slotted crank-disks 23 23 with the depending arms 24 24. upon the shafts 19 20, impart the .necessary oscillating motion to said shafts.

Through the top platen 2 and concentric with the center of each of thepumps are the IOO inlet and exhaust ports 25 25".:.52WVithin the pump and over the inlet-port 25 is an ordinary horizontal check-valve 26. A tube 27 connects the exhaust-port with the deiiectors 8 8 82 83, upon the outlet end of which is a check-valve 28 of the same construction as the valve 26. lVhen the pumphead is raised, air is sucked into the pump through the porthole 25 and cheek-valve 26, and when the pump-head is forced down the air within the pump is exhausted through the tube 27 and deflector 8 into the air-tank 5.

The pumps, which are diametrieally opposite each other, operate together-that is, they both take in and exhaust air at the same time-so that the two currents of air are forced simultaneouslythrough the diametrically opposite deiiectors 8 83 and valves 28 28, meeting in the center of the air-tank 5 and distributing it equally within the said tank. From the tank 5 the air-current is conveyed to the pressure-regulator 29 by means of the pipe 30, which lays between platens 2 and 3 of the bed-plate 1.

The device which regulates and evens the air-pressure comprises an auxiliary chamber 31 within the outer case 32, iilled with sponge or other porous material and determined by the upper stationary head 33 and lower adjustable head 34, both of said heads 33 34 having a perforated web. Shaft'35 is rotatably seeured to the head 34 by a nut and washer and with the hand-wheel 3G upon the end of said shaft opposite to the head 34 provides means for adjusting said head. The threaded portion of the shaft 35 operates in the regulator-cap 37, and an ordinary gland 38 ou the end of the central hub 39 of the regulator-cap 37 contains a 'suitable packing whereby the joint is made air-tight.

When it is desired to increase the pressure of air through the exhaust-pipe 40, leading from the pressure-regulator 29, the lower head 34 is drawn down toward the base of the regulator, thus elongating the sponge-chamber 31 and opening the pores of the sponge. The air now having less resistance finds its way through the sponge-pores far more readily than before, and thereby reaches the exhaustpipe 40 with a greater pressure than if the pores of the sponge were closed and offered more resistance.

To decrease the pressure of air, the spongechamber 31 is shortened by raising the lower head 34. rlhe sponge-pores are now closed more tightly andl offer sufficient resistance to the air to reduce its pressure when it reaches the exhaust-pipe 40. Any dirt or foreign matter that may have been pumped into the air-tank 5 and from thence passed through lhe connecting-pipe 30 into the pressure-regulator 29 is prevented from passing farther and into the generator-tank 41 by the sponge in the regu1ator-ehamber 31, which effectual] y holds it until removed by outside force.

It may be necessary in especially cold or damp weather to heat or dry the air before it passes into the generator-tank 41, and to do this I surround by the metal cover 42 a coil of pipes 43, through which the current of air passes from the pressure-regulator 29 to the generator-tank 41, and aseries of gasburncrs on the pipe 44 under the coils of pipe, when lighted, heat the said coils of pipe and the air passing through them. The pipe 44 and the generator-tank 41 can be connected in any convenient manner, so that the necessary gas can be conveyed to the burners on said pipe.

From the coil 43 the air is conveyed in a purified condition at an even temperature and pressure through the pipe 45 into the generator-tank 41.

The generator-tank 41 is a stationary airtight tank constructed with a sheet-metal jacket 46 and a cast-metal head at each end secured to said jacket. The interior of said tank is divided into two sections, of which one is an oil and the other adrying chamber. Brackets 48 49 hold the generator-tank 41 suspended over the rear side of the bed-plate 1. The central hub 49 of the head 50 is j ournaled in bracket 49, and bracket 48 is bolted to the annular ring 51 upon the outer end of the generator-tank 41.

An external annular ring 5l bolted to head 52 and sweated to the jacket 46 of the generator-tank 41 by solder or other analogous soft metal, as shown by 53 in Fig. 4, and with the internal annular shoulder 54 upon the said head 52, renders the outer end of the generator-tank 41 air-tight.

Exhaustpipe 55 is screwed into the central hub 56 of the head 52 and conveys the manufactured gas to the place of consumption.

The head 50 is bolted to an internal annular collar 57, to which the jacket 46 is riveted by a series of rivets 58 and sweated at 59 in the same manner as shown at A plurality of spoke-arms in said collar 57 lead to an integral central hub GO for journaling the bas ket-shaft 6l.

A revolving basket 47, constructed with a perforated sheet-metal jacket (i2 and at each end thereof a cast-metal head 63, with integral radial spokearms 64, is filled with sponge or other like substance and suspended within the generator-tank 41 upon the central shaft G1, journaled at one end in the hub G0 of the annular collar 57 and at the other end by the oil-chamber head 65, the said oil-chamber head having a central web, the lower half 66 of which is solid. Between the collar 57 and the head 50 and keyed to the basket-shaft G1 is the gear 67, meshing into the pinion (58 upon the pinion-shaft 69, journaled in the collar 57 and the integral hub on the head 50.

rllhe packing-gland 70, of ordinary construction, provided with suitable packing, makes an air-tight journal for the pinion-shaft (i9, which is driven by the worm-gear 71 upon the outerend thereof. Located between the oilchamber head and the generator-tank head 52 is the drying-chamber filled with sponge and constructed with the perforated diaphragms 72 72' between the two heads 73 73, united by a central bolt 74.

By constructing the head 52 with the internal shoulder 54 and bolting it to the annular ICO IOS

IIO

ring 51 I am enabled with little difficulty to remove all of the internal parts of the generator-tank 41 When the head 52 is taken off.

An automatic plug -valve 75, suspended upon the inside of the head 50 by the connecting-pipe 76, which is screwed through the said head 50 and into the valve-body 77, regulates the supply of oil in the oil-chamber automatically.

The vertical chamber 78 in the valve-bod y 77 and in Which the valve-stem 79 operates is closed by the threaded cap 80, having a knurled head. Pivotally connected to the valve-body 77 by the pintle 81 is a lever S2, against Which the valve-stem rests, and a semicircular spring 83 unites the lever 82 With the cork float 84. The oil-supply is conveyed through the pipes 86 and 76 into the valve 75 and through the valve into the oil-chamber.

Vhen there is no oil in the' generator-tank 41, the valve 75 is open, and the oil Will flow through the valve-body 77 and port-hole 74 into the oil-chamber until it has attained a predetermined level, Which is represented by line B C in Fig. 3, at which level the float 84 Will have raised sufficiently to push the valve 87 up against its seat SS and close it, thus effectually shutting off the oil-supply.

A dri p-port 89 through the valve-body 77 at a point even with the top of the cap 80 Will carry off any oil that should pass the porthole 74 and drop into the chamber 78.

As the oil volatilizes and passes oif as gas the float 84 drops, the valve opens, and oil again iioWs into the generator-tank 41 until it reaches its normal level, when the float S4, Which rides upon the top of the oil, Will close the valve and shut off the supply of oil.

If the oil in the generator-tank 41 should become agitated, as it would if the machine Were upon shipboard, the spring connection 83 between the float 84 and lever 82 Will spring sufficiently to compensate for the uneven level of the oil and the valve will operate as effectually as if the surface of the oil Were smooth and even.

Electricity is the motive power which I prefer to use, and .it may be derived from batteries or fromA an ordinary electric dynamocircuit. The use of an electric motor is not essential, however, as a water, air, or other motor Will operate the machine with equal economy and efficiency, and in some cases it may be preferable to use motors other than electric.

An electric motor 91, of ordinary construction, is rigidlysecured to the platen 2 and provided With an elongated armature-shaft 92, the outer end of which is journaled in the stand 93. Keyed to the said shaft 92 is the Worm 95, which meshes into Worm-gear 94 upon the basket-driving shaft 96, the said shaft 92 being journaled in the stands 97 98 and bracket 49. The Worm 99 upon the basket-driving shaft 96 meshes into and drives the Worm-gear 71 upon the above-described pinion-shaft 69. Gear 100 and pinion 101 impart the necessary rot-ary motion to the shaft 102, which is journaled in the stand 103 104, and keyed to either end of said shaft 102 is a slotted crank-disk 23 23'.

The current of electricity leading to the electric motor 91 is controlled by and the amount of air pumped into the air-tank 5 is governed by the mechanism shown in Figs. 10 and 11. The said mechanism is caused to operate automatically by the air-press ure being used in the generator-tank 41.

Supported by the open throat of the stand 105, projecting upward from the platen 2, is the block 106, made of a non-conducting maferial, having a series of contact-buttons 107 bolted to it by means of the screw-shank 108 and nuts 109. Lever 110 is loosely mounted upon the stud 111 in the block 106, and upon either side of the center of the said lever 110 are the counterbalances 112 112', which are adj usted on the threaded rods 113 113', screwed in the respective ends of said lever 110. The air-cylinder 114 projects upward from the platen 2 and is connected to the pipe 115,lead ing from the air-tank 5 by the elbow 116. In the upper end of the piston-rod 117 the shank 118 of the `Wheel-disk 119 is inserted, and upon said Wheel-disk rests the antifriction- Wheel 120, mounted on the shaft 121 in the lever 110. EXternally-threaded nut 122 is screwed into the cylinder 114 to form a guide for the piston-rod 117, and the felt disk 123, integral head 124, and nut 125 unite to form the piston-head 126. The upper end 127 of the lever 110 is counterbored to form a chamber for the coil-spring 12S, which encircles the reduced shank 129 of the movable contactbutton 130. Itis the object of the coil-sprin g 128 to hold the movable contact-button 130 against the stationary contact-buttons 107 with a uniform tension.

The operation of the current controller mechanism is as follows: The lever 110, carrying the movable contact-button 130, is connected with one pole of a battery or series of batteries, and each of the stationary contactbuttons 107 is connected With a series of batteries or resistance-coils in the same manner as an ordinary rheostat,vvhich is so Well known to the art that it need not be explained here. When the machine is not in use and no gas is passing out of the generator-tank 41, the air-pressure in the pipe 115, connecting the air-tank 5 with the cylinder 114, raises the piston-rod 117 and the lever 110 until they occupy the position shown in the dotted lines in Fig. 10, when the removable contact-button 130 is upon a blank button 131 and no current is passing through into the motor. The apertures 132 in the nut 122 provide means for the air in the cylinder 114, above the piston-head 126, to escape when the piston 117 is raised. If you begin now to exhaust the gas from the generator-tank, the pressure of air in theair-tank 5 diminishes and the piston-rod, which is supported by the air-pressure under the piston-head, falls.

As it falls IOO IIO

the lever carries the movable contact-button 130 over the contact-buttons 107 and increases the current in the motor, which in turn increases its speed, and through it the pumps operate faster and pump more air into the airtank` 5, until the pressure generated is sufiicient to counteract the pressure being exhausted from the generator-tank, at which point the piston-rod remains in a stationary position and the current of electricity leading into the motor remains permanent.

By means of the counterbalances 112 112', which are adjustable upon the threaded rods 113 113', the lever 110 can be operated by a greater or less pressure, according to their positions in relation to the center stud 111-that is, if the counterbalance 112 is at its maximum distance and counterbalance 112' is at its minimum distance from the center stud it will require greater. pressure to operate the lever 110 than if the positions of the counterbalances were reversed.

The speed of the machine and the amount of gas generated are governed automatically by the amount consumed, so that if gas is being exhausted for but one burner the machine will not operate as fast, and hence will not manufacture as large a quantity of gas as if two or more burners were being used.

In operating my improved gas-generator I prefer to use naphtha; but any oil that is readily volatilized can be used. The oil fiows into the oil-chamber in the generator-tank 41 from the oil reservoir or tank through the pipe S6 and automatic valve 75 until the snrface of the oil is about the level of line B C in Fig. 3. The vertical oil-gage 150, of ordinary construction, is secured to the head 50 to ascertain at a glance from the outside the eXact level of the oil-surface within the generator-tank. As the space between the head 50 and the oil-chamber head G5 is filled with oil the sponge in the lower part of the revolvingbasket 47 absorbs it. The basket 47 is now caused to revolve by the mechanism heretofore described, and the vapor which arises from the oil and the small particles of oil that remain in the sponge pores after the sponge in the basket has passed through the oil-chamber are carried in to the drying-chamber by the current of air that is continually forced through the generator-tank by the means heretofore described. The vapor has now united with the air and becomes a gas, and any moisture that still remains is absorbed by the sponge in the drying-chamber, after which the gas passes out of the exhaustpipe 55 ready to be consumed.

By the process herein described, wherein the current of air and the vapor from the naphtha are united, the gas product gives a better light than heretofore produced and at a greatly-reduced cost.

The pipe-couplings and air-cocks are of the ordinary construction and located in convenient position to control the air-pressure or gas product at any stage in the process.

In the couplings 151 a circular piece of wiregauze 152 is placed between the packing and one section of the coupling, as shown in Fig. 15, to extinguish any flame that might set back from the place of combustion through the exhaust-pipe 55, upon the principle of the well-known Davys lamp.

It is obvious that there are many minor changes that can be made within my invention, and I would therefore have it understood that I do not limit myself to the exact construction herein shown and described, but hold myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fall fairly within the spirit and scope of my invention; but

Vhat I do claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In combination with a generator-tank having an oil and drying chamber, of a coutinuously-revolving basket within said generator-tank mounted upon a central shaft whose ends are within the interior of said tank, of a plurality of pumps operated by the same motive mechanism that rotates the aforesaid basket, of an air-tank to receive the air-supply from said air-pumps, of pipe connections between said air-tank and said generator-tank, of a motor adapted to operate said pumps and continuously rotate said basket, the said motor being controlled by the amount of carbureted air exhausted from said generator-tank, substantially as described.

2. In a gas-generating machine, the combination of an air tank or reservoir, a generator-tank containing two chambers independent of each other, one a drying-chamber and the other an oil-chamber, pipe connections between said air tank or reservoir and said generator-tank, a continuously-revolvingbasket within said oil-chamber, means for revolving said basket, an automatic starting and stopping mechanism for saidmeans controlled by the air-pressure in said tank or reservoir which in turn is governed by the amount of air passing through said generator-tank, substantially as described.

3. In a gas-generating machine, the combination of an air tank or reservoir for the airsupply, a generator-tank containing an oilchamber and a drying-chamber, a continuously-revolving basket within said oil-chamber, a pressure-regulator to even and purify the air before entering the generator-tank, the said pressure-regulator comprising an outer case containing an interior chamber filled with a porous material and provided with means to vary the length of said chamber whereby the pores in said porous material may be opened or closed, pipe connections between said air-tank and said pressure-regulator and between said pressure-regulator and said generator-tank, substantially as described.

4. In a gas-generating machine, a generator-tank having an internal oil-chamber bctween one end of said tank and an intermediate head, a drying-chamber between said IOC) IIO

intermediate head and the other end of said tank, the said drying-chamber containing a porous material between two perforated diaphragms united by a central bolt and adapted to be'removed from the generator-tank complete without disturbing any. of its operative parts, a continuous] y-revolvin g basket within said oil-chamber mounted on a central shaft having bearings in the said intermediate head, and an annular collar secured to the head of said tank, with means for rotating said basket continuously, substantially as described.

. 5. In a gas-generating machine, the combination of a generator-tank the interior of which is divided into two sections and one of which contains oil, a circular basket within said generator 4 tank, having a perforated jacket lled with sponge or other porous substance and mounted upon a central shaft journaled in the intermediate head and the collar at the head of said tank whereby both ends of said shaft are within the interior of said tank and means for rotating said basket in said oil-chamber, substantially as described.

6. In a gas-generating machine, the combination of the generator-tank 41 constructed as herein described, a revolving basket mounted on shaft 61 Within said generating-tank, intermediate head 65 at one end of said oilchamber, a drying-chamber substantially as herein shown between said-intermediate head and the head of said tank, gear 67 upon said basket-shaft 61, pinion 68 mounted upon pinion-shaft 69, the said gear 67 and the said pinion 68 located and operating Within said tank pinion-shaft 69 and worm-gear 71 rigidly secured to the outer end of said pinion-shaft 69, substantially asdescribed.

7. Ina generator-tank for a gas-generating machine, the combination of the outer jacket 46, head 52 with a central boss 56 to which is secured the exhaust-pipe 55, the said head being bolted to an annular ring 51 which is sweated to the said jacket, head 50 with a central boss to which is secured the inlet-pipe 45, the head 50 being secured to a collar 57 riveted and sweated to the said jacket, intermediate head 65 within said jacket and between the aforesaid heads 50, 52, automatic valve 75 for regulating the supply of oil in said generatortank, substantially as described.

8. In a gas-generating machine for automatically regulating the supply of oil within the generator-tank, the combination of a valve-bod y, valve and valve-stem within said body, a lever pivotally connected with said body, a oat below said body and a spring connecting said iioat with said body substantially as described. A

9. In a gas-generating machine for automatically regulating the supply of oil within the generator-tank, the combination of the Valve-body 77 having a central chamber 78 and port-holes S9, 90 passing through said valve-body into said chamber, valve 87 and integral stem 78 operating in said chamber, lever 82 pivotally connected with said valvebody, float 84 and spring 83 connecting said lever with said float substantially as described.

10. In a gas-generating machine, the combination of the stand 105, insulated base 106 mounted in said stand, a series of contactbuttons 107 secured to said base, lever 127 pivot-ally mounted on said base, antifrictionwheel 120 mounted in said lever, oounterbalances 112, 112 upon opposite sides of the central bearing of said lever 127, threaded rods 113, spring-actuated movable contact-button 180 in one arm of said lever, cylinder 114C proj ecting upward from the bed-plate of said machine, air-actuated piston-rod 117 circular disk 119 in one end of said piston-rod, and threaded nut 122 substantially as described.

v11. In a gas-generating machine, the combination of the bed-plate 1, a plurality of pumps secured to said bed-plate, means for operating said pump, an air-tank to receive the air from said air-pumps, a generator-tank containing an oil-chamber and drying-chamber, means for conveying air from said airtank to said generator-tank, a pressure-regulator for regulating the pressure of the air as it is being conveyed from the said air-tank to ICO IOS 

